About Jemma
‘Las Vagus Curaciones Music Studio’
Music is like learning a new language.
There is something special that music can give us in our life.
“In music and the arts, we enter a sphere where self-expression can exist, where motif can be explored, where narratives can be re-written, where senses can be calmed, where the aesthetic of high arts can be historically placed and appreciated. Music is a place we can go to dance, to connect, to learn, to be motivated and to chill out.”
Jemma began learning, writing music and singing in choirs and doing musical theatre as a child. It was not until graduating from high school, that her pursuits in artistic pathways could be more fully realised.
Jemma successfully auditioned and attended art school after winning a National award for painting completed at age 17. In the same year, Jemma co-wrote and was a lead actor for.a National award winning play. During art school, Jemma took subjects at the Ballarat Academy of Arts learning with some of Australia’s best and taught Piano at an arts collective. Wishing to reconnect with dance, later auditioning for the Dance Factory. It was a two hour train ride each way.
In Melbourne, Jemma attended Estill Voice Technique practitioner training with Helen Tiller and at the end of the training, completed a masterclass. Jemma sought out singing tuition from acclaimed singers turned tutors in Melbourne and Daylesford and auditioned for ‘Actor’s Studio’ at the National Theatre, a year long course. At the final graduation performance Jemma received encouraging testimonials both from her tutor and a tutor from the Victorian College of the Arts.
Back in art school Jemma had dabbled in a band with friends as the lead singer and flutist playing Irish, Celtic and Folk music. She began to write more music and started playing gigs at wine bars and cafes locally, writing a lot during this time. A music recording studio was found based on what the budget would allow and a 4 track Indie EP ‘Movie Called Life’ was cut. It got radio airplay and Jemma was interviewed on a few outer-Melbourne radio stations.
The Jemma Michael band played in the Yarra Valley region and at regional family events and charities with Jemma then moving into radio co-hosting and production for community radio, co-writing the scripts for a program called, ‘Music Matters’. Through a family connection, Jemma dabbled in Film/TV industry for a bit, before returning to doing regional gigs, including a ‘Singer on Horseback spectacular’ with a magazine write up.
Jemma returned to University to study teaching and subsequently completed an Honours Degree in Education with Monash University and was awarded The Silver Jubilee Monash Honours Scholarship. Subjects addressed included music research, gifted education, arts education and creativity. Jemma presented her Honours thesis abstract at the Monash Education Research Community before continuing teaching and being a mum.
Jemma returned to vocal and piano coaching at local private and Catholic schools. Before long, she had filled up lesson spaces. Jemma had a stable of private music lessons (children and adults) outside of the school system and coached several people with sights set on performing. A full-time teaching contract became available so the music tuition paused. Noosa and the warm weather called in 2019 and the family move was made from Victoria to Queensland.
Yet again returning to study whilst full-time teaching, Jemma elected to do a Masters in Counselling at Monash University to add therapeutic components her work with horses and music. Jemma was invited to speak at the 2024 Animal Therapies Ltd conference in Brisbane and in 2025 was accepted into two select entry State Wide Leadership programs for women leading onto many connections in in business, politics, medicine, psychology, holistic therapies, owners of major companies, film producers, keynote speakers and esteemed lecturers.
Happily returning to writing and playing some live music in and around the Sunny coast, Jemma returned to tutoring piano and voice in 2025. Recently, one of Jemma’s singing students landed a lead role in a musical on the coast. Jemma teaches from two purpose built studios in Noosa and Cooroy. Alongside being a certified registered counsellor, Jemma facilitates therapeutic music circles for a community centre for women. The focus is mindfulness, relaxation and music for an overall peaceful experience.
Previously, Jemma wrote a pilot program for disengaged young people utilising the arts (music, art, drama) and successfully trialled this in schools with the support of a National charity organisation. Currently Jemma is a fully registered teacher (QCT), certified registered Counsellor (PACFA) Level 2 Counsellor (ACA). Her credentials extend into ASIST training, disaster management, NDIS, first aid, NLP, reiki, coaching, equine certifications and more.
MCouns, Bed (Hons), Grad Dip Ed (Sec)
BVA (Fine Arts) DipEquine Psych